July 1 Minor League Report/July 2 Preview

The Blue Jays pulled off a victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Canada Day and the minor league clubs were also mostly winners in a very good day overall for the Jays and their affiliates.

Buffalo Bisons 5, Syracuse Chiefs 4

In another extra-innings game, the Buffalo Bisons turned the table this time on the Syracuse Chiefs, winning 5-4 in 10 innings. Deck McGuire made the start and managed to get through 5 1/3 innings but allowed three runs on seven hits (including two home runs to Steven Souza) and two walks. Rob Rasmussen allowed the other run but struck out three batters in 1 1/3 innings. Luis Ayala, Mike Zagurski and Bobby Korecki Combined to finish the last 2 1/3 innings without giving up a run. Dan Johnson was on base four times, going 1/2 with three walks and Ryan Goins, Erik Kratz and A.J. Jimenez each had two hits and it was Jimenez’s 10th inning double that drove home the winning run. Jonathan Diaz drove in three, going 1/4 with a double.

Player of the Game: A.J. Jimenez and Dan Johnson

New Hampshire Fisher Cats 6, Reading Fightin’ Phils 2

In a matinee game, the Fisher Cats brought out the lumber to slug three home runs against the Fightins to take home a 6-2 victory. Andy Burns had a big game, going 2/5 with a home run while Kevin Nolan also had two hits including a dinger and Jack Murphy also went deep for the Fisher Cats, going 1/3 with a walk and two RBI. Jorge Flores was 2/4 and Dalton Pompey went 1/4 with a triple, a walk and an RBI. The pitching staff was excellent with John Anderson going 4 2/3 innings in his first start of the season, throwing 65 pitches (42 for strikes). He allowed two runs on four hits but didn’t walk anyone and struck out one. Dustin Antolin (2 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 K) and Randy Boone (2 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 K) finished off the game.

Kevin Nolan

Player of the Game: Andy Burns and Kevin Nolan

Dunedin Blue Jays 1, Clearwater Threshers 0

The D-Jays played a close game in which no one scored until the eighth inning, finally getting a run and holding on for a 1-0 win. Kendall Graveman lowered his ERA to 2.70 despite not figuring in to the decision by throwing six scoreless innings, allowing five hits and no walks and striking out four. Justin Jackson earned the victory with a clean inning and Efrain Nieves and Arik Sikula finished off the game. The batters only had five hits among them and it was Dwight Smith Jr. that brought the run in, doubling and walking with an RBI.

Roster Notes: The Dunedin Blue Jays have gotten a couple of pitchers back from New Hampshire over the past couple of days with Taylor Cole going on the Temporary Inactive list and Danny Barnes going on the DL. Arik Sikula and Blake McFarland came back from New Hampshire and RHP Frank Viola III was promoted from Lansing.

Player of the Game: Kendall Graveman

Lansing Lugnuts 4, West Michigan Whitecaps 12

The Lugnuts took a shellacking from the Whitecaps with Chase De Jong taking the first salvo, giving up six runs in the second inning and not being able to make it out. Brent Powers, a recently signed minor league free agent, made his Lansing debut and was greeted by the Whitecaps unkindly, allowing two runs of his own in 1 1/3 innings. Matt Dermody went three more and allowed two runs and so did Scott Silverstein in two innings. In other prospect news, Anthony Alford was promoted to Lansing from Bluefield and went 1/4 with an RBI and a stolen base in his Midwest League debut. Daniel Klein hit the only extra-base hit with a double.

Roster Notes: Anthony Alford and Brent Powers were assigned to Lansing while Frank Viola was promoted to Dunedin.

Player of the Game: None

Vancouver Canadians 8, Salem-Keizer Volcanoes 4

The Vancouver Canadians doubled the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes thanks to some solid pitching and timely hitting. Zakery Wasilewski started and was hit fairly consistently, allowing seven hits and two runs over 4 2/3 innings. Yeyfry Del Rosario added 2 1/3 scoreless innings while Kamakani Usui and Andrew Case each allowed a run over his inning of work. Roemon Fields keeps getting on base, going 2/5 with an RBI. Michael De La Cruz is still hitting up a storm, pushing his batting average to .324 with two doubles in four at bats. Chris Carlson walked three times, going 1/1 with two runs scored and an RBI while Tim Locastro stole a base and went 2/5.

Bluefield Blue Jays 13, Princeton Mariners 9

The Blue Jays brought their bats today, picking up their fifth win against Princeton. Leading the 14-hit charge was Gabriel Cenas who went 3/5 with a single, double and home run, driving in four runs and scoring two. Cenas was joined in the three-hit club by Josh Almonte who was 3/5 but was caught stealing twice. Rolando Segovia was 2/4 with a walk and Trent Miller was 2/4 with two doubles and three RBI. Catcher Dan Jansen was 2/4 with a double, a walk, three runs scored and an RBI. On the pitching side, Joey Aquino went five innings, allowing two runs on three hits with four strikeouts. Alberto Guzman, his piggyback partner probably wished he never ran in from the bullpen after giving up seven runs on seven hits in 1 2/3 innings. Michael Kraft and Dusty Isaacs finished off the game.

Roster Notes: Anthony Alford was promoted to Lansing and Chase Mallard was sent to Vancouver. No one has come to Bluefield to take their place.

Player of the Game: Gabriel Cenas

GCL Blue Jays 2, GCL Tigers 8

Pitchers didn’t do too well in Rookie ball for the Blue Jays on this day with Conner Greene getting hit hard over 3 2/3 innings for the GCL Blue Jays, allowing two home runs and five runs, despite striking out seven. Bobby Wheatley decided to match that home run total, throwing 3 2/3 innings of his own and allowing three runs on two homers. Jonathan Torres finished the game with 1 2/3 innings of no-hit (but two-walk) ball. Freddy Rodriguez had two hits and Yeltsin Gudino hit a double.

Player of the Game: Freddy Rodriguez

DSL Blue Jays 1, DSL Mets2 2

This game appears to have been stopped in the bottom of the fourth inning with Osman Gutierrez allowing two runs over 3 2/3 innings. Javier Hernandez and Manuel Heraz have the only two hits for the Blue Jays.

July 2 Preview

Buffalo Bisons (43-40)

The Bisons send P.J. Walters to the mound for the first half of a double header against Shane Greene and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. This one’s at 5:35 PM and will be available on MiLB TV. Game two will have Raul Valdez against Nik Turley.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (38-45)

The Fisher Cats send Radhames Liz to the mound against the Reading Fightin’ Phils and Perci Garner. Catch it at 7:05 PM ET on MiLB TV.

Dunedin Blue Jays (50-31)

The Dunedin Blue Jays will send Jesse Hernandez to the mound at home to face Colin Kleven and the Clearwater Threshers. Hernandez has given up at least five runs in his last two outings and is looking to bounce back at 6:30 PM.

Lansing Lugnuts (38-43)

The Lugnuts keep facing tough West Michigan pitchers, this time it’s Chad Green who has a 3.33 ERA. The Lugnuts answer with Brad Allen who makes his second start since being activated off the DL. In his last start, he allowed three runs on six hits in just innings against the Great Lakes Loons. This one’s at 7:00 PM.

Vancouver Canadians (12-7)

While it’s not listed on MiLB.com, I have a feeling that Vancouver is sending Starlyn Suriel to the mound against the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes at 10:05 PM ET.